--- title: "Import Excel or CSV (Runtime Mappings) Step" slug: "import-excel-or-csv-runtime-mappings-step" description: "Import Excel or CSV data and dynamically map columns to an Object List at runtime." updated: 2026-06-26T13:09:34Z published: 2026-06-26T13:09:34Z canonical: "documentation.decisions.com/import-excel-or-csv-runtime-mappings-step" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Import Excel or CSV (Runtime Mappings) Step ## Overview The **Import Excel or CSV (Runtime Mapping)** step takes in a CSV/Excel file data and maps the desired columns to an **Object** **List** as output. This step is similar to the [Import Excel or CSV](https://documentation.decisions.com/version-10/docs/import-excel-or-csv-runtime-mappings-step?highlight=Import%20Excel%20or%20CSV) step but differs in that it allows the user to add a List of mappings dynamically at runtime. The below file is a Project that can be downloaded and imported. To learn how to import, see [Importing and Exporting Projects](/version-10/docs/importing-and-exporting-projects). [Simple Example](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/DC574%20Import%20Excel%20or%20CSV%20-28052019-040939.zip) The following Excel file can be downloaded and used with the below example. [TestSheetForImport.xlsx](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/TestSheetForImport.xlsx) --- ## Example 1. From a Designer Project, click CREATE FLOW and select **Flow.** Enter a **N****ame**, and click CREATE. 2. In the Flow Designer, click SETUP INPUT DATA. 3. In the **Input Data** window, enter "ExcelSheet" under NAME and click the dropdown list under TYPE and select **FIle** **Data**. Click **Save** and close the window.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1782420544998.png) 4. Next, from the FAVORITE STEPS category in the **Toolbox** panel, attach a **Create** **Data** step to the **Start** step. Then, on the **Properties** panel, click SHOW EDITOR. The Create Data step will be used to establish the required DynamicCSVMapping input to help the Import step know how to distribute data to the desired columns.  ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778686953980.png) 5. From the Data Definitions window, enter "MappingData" under NAME and change the TYPE to **DynamicCSVMapping**, and check **Is List**. Click Save and close the window.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1782420495755.png) 6. On the Create Data, click ADD under the **Mapping Data** field.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1782421012994.png) 7. Each field will represent a different column in the spreadsheet. Each field will correspond to a column number, starting with Column 0. In the Field Name for Column 0, enter "EmailAddress" and click OK. Repeat this process to create Column 1 with a Field Name of "Id" and Column 2 with a FIeld Name of "Name".![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778687083087.png) 8. Attach an **Import Excel or CSV (Runtime Mappings)** step from the DATA > EXCEL & CSV category in the Toolbox panel to the Create Data step.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778687243575.png) 9. On the Properties panel, set the **Output Data Type** to **AccountInfo** by entering "account" in the field and selecting it.The Output Data Type must output a Data Type that contains Data Members whose Names and Types match the desired Columns and Column Data Types respectively. For this example, a Flow Structure will work. If there are Data Member Names that are missing from the Data Structure and the DynamicCSVMapping expects those Column Names, then an error will occur. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778687275603.png) 10. Leave each option under ERROR HANDLING set as **Add Outcome**.Alternately users have the option to also choose Throw Exception or Ignore and Continue. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778687359682.png) 11. Under **INPUT DATA > Input File Type**, select **Excel_xlsx** from the dropdown list and set **Start on Row** to "2". For this example, setting Start on Row to 2 skips the first row in the Excel file which is occupied by a Header.  ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778687327739.png) 12. Under the INPUTS category, click **Unknown** next to the **File Data** field and select **Select From Flow**. Select **ExcelSheet** and click DONE. Then, map **MappingData** to the **Mapping** field.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778687441855.png) 13. From the FLOW MANAGEMENT category of the Toolbox, attach an **End** step to each path of the Import Excel or CSV (Runtime Mappings) step. Name each End step by providing a value in their **Data** field. 14. Click Save to save changes to the Flow. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778687556368.png) --- ## **Debug** 1. Click **Debug** from the top action bar. 2. Click and drag, or use the CHOOSE FILE button to add the **Test** **Excel** file. Then, click START DEBUGGING.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1782479339217.png) 3. After the Flow runs, select **Import Excel or CSV (Runtime Mapping) > Execution 1 > View Input/Output Data**. The resulting Output data will demonstrate the imported data from the Excel sheet sorted into each Column by the defined Mapping Data. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778687668519.png)